this lyric was written for the 1993 broadway cares/equity fights aids easter bonnet competition and was performed by laurie beechman, who sadly succumbed to cancer a few years later … that was the only performance of the song (music by henry krieger) until alicia irving sang it in the concert of my songs at the donnell library last week … chad kimball requested a copy of the lyric in memory of his cousin and so i post it here with the thought there are others to whom it may have meaning
you had to leave
before the run had ended
and we’ve been missing you so
we get together
when the curtain has descended
and talk about old friends
we used to know
sometimes it seems
our hearts cannot be mended
why did you ever have to go?
oh how you loved to make the magic
you gave it your all
whether the style was light or tragic
whether your part was large or small
we cherish your gift
even though you are gone
and your show is going on
your love and work continue
your talent was a true phenomenon
you will always be a part
of our lives
of our art
your show is going on
oh how you loved to make the magic
you gave it your all
whether the style was light or tragic
whether your part was large or small
we cherish your gift
even though you are gone
and your show is going on
we cherish your gift
even though you are gone
and your show is going on